- Relief for Students as FG Suspends WASSCE, NECO Fee Hike
- Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence based policymaking
- Assured Nigerians that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector
The Federal Government has suspended its proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), following public concerns over the planned increase.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the decision was announced by the Federal Ministry of Education on Monday, which said it had withdrawn the letter dated 18 June 2026 that communicated the proposed fee adjustment.
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According to the ministry, the suspension is to allow for a comprehensive review of the proposal and wider consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is made.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence based policymaking.
The ministry acknowledged the concerns raised by Nigerians and expressed appreciation for the constructive feedback received from the public, noting that access to quality education remains a priority.
It explained that the proposed fee review was driven by current economic realities and the rising cost of organising credible public examinations across the country.
According to the ministry, examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing expenses associated with logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services required to maintain the integrity of national examinations.
However, it said the government had decided to suspend the implementation of the proposal to ensure that all affected groups are carried along in the decision making process.
As part of the review, the ministry said it would engage with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders to ensure that any future decision is fair, sustainable and responsive to prevailing economic conditions.
It stressed that the proposed increase in registration fees would not take effect until the consultation process is completed.
The ministry also assured Nigerians that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector.
It added that the public would be kept informed as consultations progress.
